Carrying rack



`Fan. l, 1946.

F. HALosKl 2,392,043

CARRYING RACK Filed June l0, 1944 A TTORNE YS.

Patented Jan. l, 1946 UNITED STATES ,PATENT OFFICE CARRYING RACK Frank Haloski, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Vacuum Can Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application June 10, 1944, Serial No. 539,665

claims. (C1. 224-45) means for retaining containers in stacked relation, and having quickly releasable means for permitting ready insertion and removal of the containers with a minimum of danger of toppling the same;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be manifest from the following description and the accompanying drawing (one sheet) wherein there is illustrated a carrying rack embodying a selected form of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view;

Figure 2 is a front elevation wherein there is shown in broken lines, a stack of food or like containers in place in the rack;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, as viewed from the right of Figure 2, and Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary crosssection on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral [Il designates an annularbase having a vertical'side flange I I and an integral inwardly extending bottom ange I 2. The rack herein illustrated is designed for supporting a plurality of substantially cylindrical food containers or like receptacles C, C, (illustrated in broken lines in Figure 2), Wherefore said base is of annular form as aforesaid.

For retaining the containers C in stacked relation, there are provided four uprights I3, I3 and I4, I4, secured to flange II as by welding. The uprights may be of fiat bar stock for economy and lightness of construction. For reinforcing, or stiffening purposes, outwardly curved bars I3a are provided between and rigidly secured to each pair of uprights I3 and I4 respectively. These reinforcing members I3a are preferably located adjacent the bottom of the carrier.

The two uprights I3, I3 extend straight upwardly a distance approximately corresponding to the height of the stack of containers and then inwardly over the area of the base and the stacked containers C, C. The upper ends of the shorter than the height of the stacked Vcontainers, in this instance terminating at a point which permits free .passage of containers to and from the carrier.

The uprights I4, I4 are extended or continued upwardly by means of the side arms or legs I6a, Ilia of an inverted U-shaped member I3, the free ends of which are pivoted as shown at Ilia, Illa to the upper ends of uprights I4, I4. The inverted U-shaped member is formed with a straight cross-piece'A IBb for co'foperative handle-forming engagement with connecting member I5 of the uprights I3, I3, as best shown in Figures l and 4. For guiding the cross-piece I6b into registered relationship with the connecting member I5, the inwardly offset portions I3b, l3b of the uprights I3, I3, have end portions I3c, IBc extended beyond theconnecting member I5. As clearly shown' in Figure 1, the end extensions, or'ears |30 constitute guides for directing the cross member Ib into registered relationship with the connecting member I5.

As shown in the drawing, the pair of uprights I3, I3 and the pair of uprights I4, I4 are made preferably of strap metal. The straps of each pair are disposed withtheir faces or widthsin parallel relation-to each other, thatis to say, the faces of the straps I3 are in parallel relation, and the faces or widths of the straps I4 are in parallel relation, to each other. The lower ends of each of the uprights are twisted suiiiciently to lie iiatwise'against the side flange of the base to facilitate rigid attachment of said uprights to the base. Because of the specified relationship of the straps, theinwardly oiiset handle-forming portions thereof are disposed in such a position uprights I3, I3 are connected by a straight bar l as'to be vcapable of effectively resisting bending when the rack is loaded. Also, the uprights are disposed'w'ith their widths in more or less transverse relation to the stack of containeaso that bending of the uprights by outward thrust of the containers is more effectively resisted than if thestraps were disposed with their widths parallel to the surfaces ofthe stacked containers'.

A downwardly facing channel-shaped bar il normally embraces the interengaging members i5 and Ib to hold the same together, thereby Valso maintaining `the 'uprights in container-holding position, andthe' pivoted, inverted U-shaped or closing'member I8 in closed position. The chan-l nel-shaped bar is provided with a lug or extension I8a on one flange I8 thereof, through which it is pivoted as showngat Ib, to the normally fixed connecting member I5.

A concavoconvex plate" 20 is secured, as by member I6 is open, to prevent accidental dis-. placement of even the uppermost container `fromV the stack thereof in the rack.

closure member for said opening comprising leg portions pvotally connected at their lower ends to the upper ends of said shorter uprights and adapted to extend upwardly in continuation thereof, upper end portions of said legs being offset inwardly in complementary relationship to said rst mentioned inwardly oiset portions, and a cross.y member `connecting theofiset upper ends ofsaidl leg portions, said cross. member being adapted to cooperate with said connecting member to form a handle for carrying said rack and If it is desired to lock the carrierin closedposition, it may be conveniently-donebyA provid@ ing registering holes, as shown at 2 in the handle-forming elements I5, l6b and l1 for the reception of a suitable padlockor-'thelilef- The described carrier provides a convenient and comfortable, and safe means which facilitates'thecarrying about of'a stack of food or other containers whichmay be-too hot ortoo cold to'- handle directly,and-which,` becausel-o their number, could not be eIncientIy-handled, regardless of temperaturey conditions',v without some form of carrying rack. The described structure provides a carrying-handle locatedsub` stantially in vertical alignmentwiththe-*center of gravity of the stack. of containers .(wlie'ther one or more) inthe rack, so that when'- the rack is suspended from-its handle, as whence-lng car ried about,` the containers thereinwilll normally and `autonfiatica-lly assume a substantially Ihori-` zontal `position so' thatany'tendencyA to tiltv the containers and spillmaterial therefromV is* sub: stantially4 eliminated`l` or avoided.

Change'sjinv the invention may be 'made 'without departing' from the spirit thereoiorthescope of the appended claims.` I

I claim:- 1. A carrier fora stackA of'rood containersor the like, comprising a base, a pair of" uprights secured to said basega; connectingmemberexf tendingbetween the upper' ends of said upright's,

a, secondA pair of uprigntssecured 'tosai'dba'sa f said second palrof juprigiits being shorter' than said first mentioned pairofnprights; 'all ofsaid uprights being spaced around said base vso asto be adapted'to retain'a stack of containers 'on said base; a closure member embodying'leg pore tions adaptedA to' constitute^"ext'ensions ofV` said shorter uprights and a cross/member connecting the upper ends ofsaidv legs,"said' crossmember being" adapted to :Io-operate with said connecting member to form a carryinghand1e',"and the lower ends of said legs being pivotally connected' tothe upper ends ofsaid shorter uprights-so asto pro vide for pivotal movement of said closuremember from closed position to an open 'position in which it extends anguiarly from'saidshorterup'- rights.

2. A carrier for a stack of food containers or the like, comprising a base, four relatively spaced uprights extending upwardly from said base, one

pair of said uprights'having upper end portions offset inwardly over the' area of said base; a mem'- ber extending between and igidly'nterconnect ing said oise't upper end portions. adjacent. their upper ends, theother pair'of said'uprglits vbeing shorter vand terminating' in such relationship. to said inwardlyoffset portions-of said n'rst' mentioned pair of uprights'andsaidconnecting inember as to provide an opening.' adjacent the upper end of the rack for the i'nse'rtionandreinov'al containerslaterally into 'and from the rack, a

Vits contents.

3.A carrier for a stack of food containers or the like, -comprising a base, four relatively 'spaced uprightsextending upwardly from said base, one pair. oflsaid uprights having upper end portions oiset inwardly over the area of said base; a member extending between and rigidly interconnecting said offset upper end portions adjacent their upper ends, the other pair of said upright's being shorter and. terminatingin. such relationshipv .to said inwardly onset portions: Vof said iirst` mentioned pair. or vuprights.and. `said connecting' member' as. tot. provide ant .opening adjacentthe upper en'd of the. rack for the 1nsertiori` andi removai'of containers laterally: into andfrom .the rack', a closure. member forsad opening." comprising- `leg portions. pivotally conrie'ctediatC their. lower endsf'to the upper` endsof said shorter uprights andadaptedzto extend upwardly in continuation thereof,` upper end 'pon tions of said legs being offset inwardlyninf complementaryf relationship tosaid first .mentioned inwardly offset. portions, and. a :cross: member connecting the offset'upper endsrofi. said. leg por:-i tion3,-` said crossmember being adapted taxon operate'V with'. said. connecting` member to' vform a handle for carrying said rackiandits contents, said closure member being movable about its pivotal. legends from `an open. position to a closed .position wherein said cross'. member. is disposed in side by side relation tosaid connecting-member so as tof cooperate therewithto form a handle for carrying said rackLand its contents, and a locking memberzwembodying a portion adapted to embracea'rid hold togethersaidconnecting member and 4said .cross member; said locking. member being pivotally secured tdone thereof'. so as tobe movable in the. plane Athereof tol and." from locking position..

4. llll carrierwfora stack oifood. contalners'or the like;l .comprisingf'a base,4 four relatively spaced. uprightsl extending. upwardly from: said baseone pair of said: uprights having upper end portions offset inwardly over the area of Said base,. ay member extending, between.` and rigidly interconnecting said. offsetupper end vportions adjacenttheir upper ends,.the otherpair of vsaid uprights being shorter and terminating in such relationship lto said inwardly offset portionsaoi said rst mentioned pair ofruprights and V.said connecting member as to yprovide anuopening adjacent theupper endi ofthe raclr for the, insertion and removal of.V containers laterallyinto and from thegrack, a closure member .'lor.` said openingtcornprisingV leg ,portions pivotallygconnected at. their lower ends` to the upper endsxol said shorteruprights and adapted to. extend upwardly in continuation thereof, upper rend por; tionsofsaid legs being offset. inwardly inrcom plementary, relationship to said firstmentioned inwardly offset portions, and a cross member connecting the offset upper ends of'y said leg por tions, said cross memberbeing adapted-to `co;- operate witlr said connecting` member tof'orm a handle for carrying said rack 'and its contents,

said closure member being movable about its pivotal leg ends from an open position to a closed position wherein said cross member is disposed in side by side relation to said connecting member so as to cooperate therewith to form a handle for carrying said rack and its contents, said first mentioned inwardly offset portions having ears extending beyond said connecting member for guiding said cross member into registering relationship with said connecting member.

5. A carrier for a stack of food containers or the like, comprising a base, .four relatively spaced uprights extending upwardly from said base, one pair of said uprights having upper end portions oiset inwardly and towards each other over the area of said base, a member extending between and rigidly interconnecting said offset upper end portions adjacent their upper ends, the other pair of said uprights being shorter and terminating in such relationship to said inwardly offset portions of said rst mentioned pair of uprights and said connecting member as to provide an opening adjacent the upper end of the rack for the insertion and removal of containers laterally into and from the rack, a closure member for said opening comprising leg portions pivotally connected at their lower ends to the upper ends of said shorter uprights and adapted to extend upwardly in continuation thereof, upper end portions of said legs being offset inwardly and towards each other in complelnentary relationship to said first mentioned inwardly oiset portions, and a cross member connecting the offset upper ends of said leg portions, said cross member being adapted to cooperate with said connecting member to form a handle for carrying said rack and its contents.

FRANK HALOSKI. 

